King, Joey OK. Gardiner, Dawson to Return

[Beno88]

Steven King, Leigh Montagna right to play
Bruce Matthews | August 04, 2009 03:08pm


STEVEN King and Leigh Montagna look set to shrug injury doubts and play for St Kilda against Hawthorn in Launceston on Saturday.
Saints coach Ross Lyon said King had avoided serious damage to the shoulder that he dislocated against Sydney.

"King is pretty confident he will play and Montagna (elbow) is keen to keep his form going, so we'll see how the week unfolds," Lyon said.

"(King) is an old warhorse - he's really hungry to perform well and keep his spot. He's important to us."

The Saints expect to get King's ruck partner Michael Gardiner back from three weeks out with a calf injury, and full-back Zac Dawson from three weeks due to suspension.

"It's nice to h ave some players coming back," Lyon said.

"We certainly don't want any more injuries or suspensions if we can avoid it."

The 18-0 Saints have the luxury of waiting until players are absolutely right before selecting them in the top team.

"Anyone who's a risk, we won't take any unnecessary ones," the coach said.

"I think we're in a position to be more conservative, as opposed to aggressive."

Lyon said the trip to Tasmania held no fears: "We talk about anywhere, any time, against any opposition."

[perfectionist]

Bruce Matthews (wrote) "...The Saints expect to get ...full-back Zac Dawson from three weeks due to suspension...."

It was two. But who's counting!

[fingers]

"We talk about anywhere, any time, against any opposition."

I freakin' love that!

[OneEyedSainter77]

"We talk about anywhere, any time, against any opposition."

I freakin' love that!

Plus one!

[bigcarl]

No mention of Gilbert, so I take from that he's still at least another week.

Speaking of players who are important to us, Gilbert is right up there.

[perfectionist]

This story is more comprehensive and accurate. It mentions Sam Gilbert and Luke Ball:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/ ... fault.aspx

[HarveysDeciple]

Gilbert is the most important of all of them IMO....


Hope he is fit to play and just overlooked in that article.

Against the Hawks he is super important

[F_Q_F]

[quote="Ross Lyon"]"If you can’t get a game at that club sometimes you’ve got to move them on for their own good and it’s a win-win for the club. It has certainly been the case here.â€

[markp]

[quote="F_Q_F"][quote="Ross Lyon"]"If you can’t get a game at that club sometimes you’ve got to move them on for their own good and it’s a win-win for the club. It has certainly been the case here.â€

[TassieJones]

could have some great ins this week, getting close to being back to full strength

[Moods]

Personally Luke Ball is the one that I'd love fit and in form. Gilbo and co, whilst very important, can take an extra week if need be. They could probably do with a rest.

Ball is the one we desperately need in form, and can't afford to have him out injured or playing half fit in the reserves. Hard for him to ramp up his training if he can hardly breathe with a sore sternum.

[saintsrus]

[quote="F_Q_F"][quote="Ross Lyon"]"If you can’t get a game at that club sometimes you’ve got to move them on for their own good and it’s a win-win for the club. It has certainly been the case here.â€

[stinger]

here's the age article...says gilbert will resume.....


"Gardiner and Gilbert add to Saints’ options

Martin Blake | August 4, 2009

ST KILDA’S match committee has another pleasurable yet unenviable task this week as it tries to shoehorn players into a team on an 18-game winning streak for the clash with Hawthorn.

Ruckman Michael Gardiner and defender Sam Gilbert are likely to return from injuries this week while full-back Zac Dawson has completed a suspension. All three have played major parts in the best winning run in club history.

Gardiner has missed three weeks with a calf strain and will be assessed today and Thursday at training. He was left out of the game against Sydney last weekend although he was keen to play. ‘‘If he’d been right, we would have picked him,’’ said Saints’ football director Greg Hutchison. ‘‘We’ll assess him this week.’’

Fellow-ruckman Steven King, who dislocated his right shoulder during the Sydney game, is being monitored but has a good chance of playing. The premiership ruckman was strapped up after the incident and came back on the ground. ‘‘He might be OK, we’re not quite sure,’’ said Hutchison.

Gilbert, a contender for All-Australian selection as a half-back, missed the Sydney match with a back injury.

Dawson performed so well up until a fortnight ago that he must be picked, putting pressure upon the incumbent full-back, veteran Max Hudghton, who struggled against the Swans.

The presence of Hawthorn’s twin forward threats, Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughhead, will help their cause in terms of selection.

Luke Ball, who has spent the past few weeks in the VFL, was feared to have fractured his sternum while playing for Sandringham, but tests showed it was not as serious as first thought. ‘‘He’s got bruising to the chest but he should be OK for this week,’’ said Hutchison.
Ads by Google

[SaintWodonga]

Great to See Gardi & Gilbo back.. Huge ins!

[stinger]

Great to See Gardi & Gilbo back.. Huge ins!

zac back as well


"St Kilda's Dawson back to take on Hawks
By Sam Lienert
16:42 AEST Tue Aug 4 2009

Latest AFL:


St Kilda defender Zac Dawson will get the chance to help hammer the lid shut on the AFL premiership defence of the club that rejected him.

Saints coach Ross Lyon says Dawson, who has missed the Saints' past two matches through suspension, will almost certainly return to take on his former club Hawthorn in Launceston on Saturday.

It will be his first meeting with the Hawks, with whom he played 14 matches from 2005, but was unable to break into their team at all last year before being discarded at the end of the club's premiership season.

Since joining the Saints, he played every match until his two-game ban, becoming a key part of a defence that has formed the backbone of their unbeaten run.

"I'd be very surprised if Zac doesn't come in, I'm tipping he'll want to play against the Hawks," Lyon said on Tuesday.

"He'll give us some inside knowledge no doubt, but he's been a great acquisition to our club."

But Lyon doubted the Hawks would begrudge Dawson his success.

"If you can't get a game at (one) club sometimes you've got to move them on for their own good and it's a win-win for the club, so it's certainly been the case here," he said.

Dawson's return and the likely availability of fellow defender Sam Gilbert after a back injury gives the Saints a wealth of backline options.

Dawson was replaced during his suspension by Max Hudghton, who was returning from injury, with the veteran also likely to keep his place in the side.

Lyon said the Saints would need defensive depth to curtail Hawks star forward Lance Franklin, who has been in impressive recent form, although he was inaccurate with 2.7 against Port Adelaide last round.

"If his radar's on it could be a frightening experience for our backmen," Lyon said.

"But we feel we defend and team defend pretty well and we're able to put him under some pressure."

Lyon said ruckman Michael Gardiner was likely to be ready to return from a calf strain, while fellow big man Steven King could keep his spot despite having a shoulder pop out in a collision last round.

Midfielder Leigh Montagna is in some doubt with soreness.

Lyon said the Saints would not take any risks with injured players at this stage of the season.

"We're in a position to be more conservative as opposed to aggressive, so that's probably the overriding philosophy," he said."

[BakesFan]

I like your sig, stinger.

[stinger]

I like your sig, stinger.

yeah...i do too.... ,,,thanx...

[bigcarl]

Great to See Gardi & Gilbo back.. Huge ins!

gilbert didn't train and ross didn't mention him as being available, so i'll wait and see on that one

[iwantmeseats]

Joey out would REALLY hurt us unfortunately. More than some may immediately think. I hope he plays!!

[bigcarl]

Joey out would REALLY hurt us unfortunately. More than some may immediately think. I hope he plays!!

absolutely

[saintsRrising]

It will be his first meeting with the Hawks, with whom he played 14 matches from 2005, but was unable to break into their team at all last year before being discarded at the end of the club's premiership season.



So Zac has now played more games with us...than them.

[Bernard Shakey]

Great to See Gardi & Gilbo back.. Huge ins!

gilbert didn't train and ross didn't mention him as being available, so i'll wait and see on that one

BJ and Max didn't train either.

I wouldn't read too much into who wasn't there today.

Was good to see King, Gardy and Bally though.

[saintly]

"We talk about anywhere, any time, against any opposition."

I freakin' love that!

by the way GT also talked like that. talked the talk, but did not walk the walk (as the saying goes. it just did not turn out that way. the current saints are now doing it!

[saintly]

Great to See Gardi & Gilbo back.. Huge ins!

gilbert didn't train and ross didn't mention him as being available, so i'll wait and see on that one

if he is still sore they would rest rest him again.